Spintex Knights stranded in Libya over unpaid $33,000 travel bill

The Spintex Knights, Ghana's reigning Accra Basketball League champions, are currently stranded in Libya following a successful run in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) qualifiers. Despite an unbeaten record on the court, the team is unable to return to Ghana due to an outstanding debt of approximately $33,000 in travel and visa expenses. The financial impasse has left the delegation in a precarious situation as they appeal for emergency support to clear their flight costs and return home.

The Knights' predicament stands in sharp contrast to their recent sporting achievements. The team dominated the preliminary round in Tripoli, winning all three of their Group B matches to secure qualification for the Elite 16 stage. Key performances from players James Amotoe, Khyree Temple, and Justin Uwitonze were instrumental in the team's progression. This victory set them up to compete in the next phase of the tournament in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, scheduled for November 2026, where they hope to become the first Ghanaian club to reach the main BAL tournament.

However, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has expressed significant reservations regarding the team's request for assistance. While the club's co-founder, Dr. Eric Opoku-Antwi, has sought ministerial intervention to resolve the $33,000 bill, an assistant to the Sports Minister stated that the ministry was "shocked" by the development. According to the ministry, the Spintex Knights had previously indicated during the planning stages of the trip that they possessed the necessary private funding to cover all their expenses independently.

Management for the Spintex Knights continues to seek financial backing to facilitate their return to Ghana and begin preparations for the Elite 16 stage. The team's ability to represent the nation in Abidjan depends on resolving these administrative and financial hurdles. Without immediate resolution, the momentum gained from their unbeaten preliminary run risks being overshadowed by the ongoing struggle to repatriate the players and staff.